Theater: Things I Wish My Mother Would Have Told Me

by Lisa Held

“At my grandmother’s funeral, I realize for the first time that I am the only surviving woman in my family.” — Mia Perovetz as Rosa in The Things I Wish My Mother Would Have Told Me.

On October 23rd, 70 FORCE members, supporters, and friends came together at Center Stage Theater in Manhattan to connect and witness Mia Perovetz’s one-woman play, The Things I Wish My Mother Would Have Told Me.

Attendees entered the theater to find Mia asleep in a bed center stage. When the lights dimmed, she arose from the bed and began her intensely personal portrayal of watching her mother suffer through and eventually die from breast cancer. Mia’s story alternated between childhood memories of her mother and her own struggle as an adult to cope with the absence of her mother’s presence in her life.

Mia’s journey so poignantly shared from the stage struck a chord with the FORCE audience. Those who had lost loved ones to cancer shared Mia’s agony as she acted out her “silent scream.” Her fears of following in her mother’s footsteps too closely resonated with previvors and survivors alike.

After the play, audience members enjoyed cocktails and dinner, generously donated by The Village Pourhouse. They also had the opportunity to meet and chat with Mia and Joanna Rudnick, producer of the documentary film In the Family. Many FORCE volunteers were also on hand, including Executive Director Sue Friedman, Director of Volunteer Programs Barbara Pfeiffer, and our New York outreach coordinators. About $1500 was raised to support our critical programs.

A special thanks to Barbara for organizing this evening, and to all who came out to support Mia and FORCE.

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